What causes tides?
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Tides are caused primarily by the gravitational pull of the Moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun on Earth's oceans. As the Moon orbits Earth, its gravity pulls water toward it, creating a bulge (high tide) on the side facing the Moon and a corresponding bulge on the opposite side due to centrifugal force. As Earth rotates through these bulges, coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides roughly every 24 hours and 50 minutes. When the Sun and Moon align (new and full moons), their combined gravity produces spring tides with greater tidal ranges. When they are at right angles, neap tides with smaller ranges occur.